Virginia Free Press

Gentlemen of the jury--can you for an instant conceive that my client here--a man moved a depredation in society [illegible] and esteem for his many supporters. Truly can you. I say for instance, who would be guilty of hooking a box of percussion caps? Rattle yourselves a feller fast asleep in his log cabin with his innocent wife and orphan children by his side--all nature hushed in deep repose, and nought to be heard but the muttering of the silent thunder, and hollering of frogs--then imagine to yourselves a fellow sneaking up to the door, like a despicable hyena, softly entering the dwelling of the peaceful and happy family, and in the most mendacious and dastardly manner, hooking a whole box of percussion caps. Gentlemen I will not, I cannot dwell upon the monstrosity of such a scene! My feelings turn from such a picture of moral turpitude, like a big woodchuck would turn from my dog Rose! I cannot for an instant harbor the idea that any man in these diggings, much less this ere man, could be guilty of committing an act of such rambunctious and unexampled desecration. And now gentlemen, after this ere brief view of the case, let me entreat you to make up your minds candidly and impartially, and give us such a verdict as we might reasonably expect from such an enlightened and intelligent body of our fellow-citizens, remembering that in the language of Nimrod who fell in the battle of Bunker Hill, it is better that ten guilty men escape, rather than one innocent one should suffer. Judge, give us a chaw of tobacco.